New coroners’ courts to serve three Greater Manchester boroughs are intended to lessen any distress for grieving relatives. The expanded courts and office facilities in Bolton will benefit families and residents attending Manchester West Coroner’s Office. The office covers Bolton, Wigan and Salford and is one the busiest jurisdictions in the country. The chief coroner of England and Wales, His Honour Thomas Teague KC, unveiled a plaque at an official opening ceremony at Paderborn House last week. The newly renovated facilities include larger, modernised spaces, alongside additional courts at a time when the area has seen an increasing number of inquests. Bolton Council said that changes had been made to the building’s layout in order to greatly enhance the service that the court is able to provide to the local community as many visitors to the courts arrive in upsetting and stressful circumstances after losing a loved one. The renovation work has been funded by the three councils within the jurisdiction. The opening event also saw the senior coroner, Timothy Brennand, and four new assistant coroners officially sworn in. Mr Brennand said: “Attending an inquest can be a distressing experience for relatives and loved ones, and we do all we can to ensure anyone attending is made to feel as comfortable as possible. “The newly renovated facilities and improved layout mark a significant improvement, creating a more modern and comfortable space for everyone. “The expansion, alongside the new assistant coroners, will allow the court to process cases more efficiently, helping to minimise any stress or uncertainty which can come with waiting for an inquest.” A coroner will hold an inquest if, after preliminary investigations they are not satisfied about the cause of death, they are concerned that the death was not natural or the deceased was in detention at the time of their death. The inquest process is a fact-finding, rather than fault-finding, process to help the coroner establish the cause of death and the appropriate legal conclusion. There are no parties in an inquest, no indictment, no prosecution, no defence and no trial.
